Rapids Oktoberfest Celebration Starts at 5:30pm on Sept. 13!

ColoradoRapids.com - Throw on your lederhosen! The Colorado Rapids have announced that the club will hold their annual "Rapids Oktoberfest" celebration at the team's home game on Wednesday Sept. 13 when the Rapids host the Chicago Fire at Invesco Field at 7:30pm.

The Rapids Oktoberfest celebration will include pregame festivities starting at 5:30pm in the Rapids Beer Garden including a Rapids Beer Hall and entertainment by live authentic German & Bavarian cultural bands and dancers!

At 7:30pm the Rapids kick off against the Chicago Fire for the only time at home this season. For the full match preview of the game including projected lineups the latest injury report miscellaneous game notes broadcast information head-to-head stats and more visit the Rapids MatchUp Page by CLICKING HERE.

The Rapids are also offering a special "Rapids Oktoberfest Package" for this event: fans can purchase 2 game tickets and 2 ceramic Rapids Beer Steins (pictured below) for only $29! To order yours today call the Rapids at (303) 825-GOAL or CLICK HERE! Hurry only a limited supply are available so get yours now before they sell out!

At the pregame Oktoberfest event fans will be treated to performances by The Steve Rock Tanzkapelle Band and The Denver Kickers Bavarian Schuhplattlers!

The Tanzkapelle is a German & American variety band and translated means "dance band". The musical performance can be German American or a mixture of both. The music specialty is polkas and waltzes with a German beat complimented by a good variety of music to generate the best dancing response.

The Schuhplattlers dressed in the traditional Bavarian outfits are a dance group that specialize in Bavarian dancing. The Schuhplattlers are a great addition to any event with their colorful performances and audience participation dances.

This night will also feature an Oktoberfest version of the Rapids Pregame Happy Hour with food and drink specials from 5:30pm all the way up until kickoff! The Pregame Happy Hour will take place in the Rapids Beer Hall on the south end of the stadium on the Sports Legends Mall to combine with the Oktoberfest festivities!

Fans of all ages holding a Rapids game ticket will be able to enter the Rapids Beer Hall and Oktoberfest celebration free of charge! Special food and drink specials that night will include bratwursts and beers with special prices for those fans who have purchased the Rapids beer steins with their Oktoberfest package!

The first Oktoberfest the world ever saw was not really a festival at all but the public celebration of the wedding of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince of Bavaria Luitpold Karl Joseph Wilhelm Ludwig and Princess Theressa of Bavaria on October 17 1810. Held on a large meadow in Munich the party featured a horse race beer food music and dancing.

Anniversary celebrations continued each year usually starting in late September and ending in the first week of October. Oktoberfests have been held in Munich for almost 200 years. As immigrants from Germany came to North America Oktoberfest celebrations sprouted up across the USA including Colorado!

Following the pregame celebrations the Rapids will take on the Chicago Fire in a pivotal match to determine playoff positioning!